Comment by anon291

If it's truly a lay off, I would simply tell everyone. We're going to lay off X% of the workforce. If you want to voluntarily quit, we will provide you with X severance. Otherwise, we will pick and choose. Those that can find new work will do so fast. To be least cruel, you want most of your employees to find new work ASAP. That is the least cruel outcome. Thus simply telling everyone and letting people seek out employment before hand is the best way IMO. If it comes down to too many people leaving, then you can start counteroffering, or better yet, take the savings.